Packing box or carton



Sept. 5, 1933 R. E. RUTLEDGE 1,925,113

PACKING BOX OR CARTON Filed Sept. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR w FMK/ f )3 z///ea 6 ATTORNEY 8 Sept. 5, 1933. R E. RUTLEDGE PACKING BOX OR CARTON Filed Sept. 24, 1932 2 Sheets Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PACKING BOX on CARTON Robert E. Rutledge, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo,

Mich.

Application September 24, 1932 Serial No. 634,718

9 Claims. (01. 229-23) The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a packing box or container for fruits, vegetables and other products by which the contents are well protected and at the same time exposed for inspection.

Second, to provide a box or container having these advantages which may be made of comparatively light material and at the same time strong and rigid, and capable of supporting relatively heavy contents.

Third, to provide a box or container which may be very rapidly packed to provide a uniformly disposed facing layer or a facing layer of selected fruits or vegetables.

Fourth, to provide a box or container having these advantages which may be shipped in the knockdown and very quickly set up, and when set up is retained in assembled relation so that the parts are not likely to be dislocated in handling.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. I

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved box or container in assembled relation, the contents being conventionally illustrated as arranged in uniform'relation to provide a facing layer.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section showing one embodiment of the box in operative relation to a packing device. t

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the box or container in inverted position and removed from the packing device or holder.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inner member in the flat.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the outer member in inverted position and partially extended or opened.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the inner member partially set up and in inverted position.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on a line corresponding to line '7-7 of Fig. 1.

My improved box or container comprises an outer open-ended or band-like wall member 1 rectangular in horizontal section and downwardly tapered. At each corner this outer band member is provided with a vertical slot 2 of considerable length formed by a U-shaped slit adjacent the corner so that when the outer member is set up as shown in Fig. 1, the portions cut out to form the slits providing projecting tongues 3.

The inner member shown in the flat in Fig. 4 comprises a top 4 having a window opening 5. This window opening may be provided, as illustrated, with a transparent closure 6 in the form 50 of a sheet of Cellophane, glassine paper, or other transparent material. However, for many uses this closure is not deemed necessary or desirable.

The top 4 has integral inner side walls '7 extending from its edges, these side walls being downwardly tapered to fit within the outer member and.

The bottom 10 extends from the bottom edge of one 'ofthe inner walls I and has flaps 11 on its other edges. These flaps are downwardly tapered and of such length that their ends are in supporting engagement with the walls of the' outer member and so that when the members are assembled the bottom is supported in proper relation so'that it will sustain the load to which it is subjected. As stated, the parts are retained in assembled relation by the tongues 8 engaging the slots 2.

In packing, the inner member is arranged in inverted position and the walls swung to erected position. If the closure is to be provided for the window it'is laid in position and then the facing layer 12 of the contents, indicated by dotted lines, is arranged on the closure. After the facing has been arranged the material is poured into the inner member to properly fill the same. The bottom is then swung down to position and the outer wall member slipped over the inner while it is still in inverted and in packing position. It-is only necessary to push .the outer member down over the inner; the tongues 8 automatically engage, thereby locking the parts in assembled relation.

To facilitate packing Iprovide a holder consisting of aframe .13 adapted to be arranged in inverted position in the recess 15 in the packing table or support 16. This frame has side members 17 hinged at 18 to be swung inwardly into supporting engagement with the walls 7 as shown in Fig. 2 or.to be swung outwardly'as shown by dotted lines. These side members 17 have inwardly projecting parts 19 serving as supports for the face plate 20 on which the container is arranged so that by inverting the inner member of the container and pushing downwardly thereon the side members 17 of the holder are swung ln-.

wardly to swing the walls to erected position as shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

When the packing is completed the bottom is swung down with the bottom flaps 11 lying at the outside of the side walls. The outer wall member isinverted over the inner member and its contents and pushed-down over the holder walls 17 attractive in appearance.

light material.

which are of thin sheet metal and the whole may be inverted and the packing device or holder lifted, withdrawing the side member 17 thereof from between the walls of the box or container.

The top is well adapted to receive advertising or ornamental matter so the package is very The package illustrated is provided with ventilating openings 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. The openings 21, 23 and 24 are adapted to register when assembled, and the openings 22 and 25 are also adapted to register. The corner slots 2 also provide ventilating openings so that the package is well adapted for fruit such as berries or the like which require ventilation.

My improved box or container is very strong and rigid when assembled although made of thin The structure, as stated, has the advantage of being readily packed and is attractive in appearance.

I have not attempted to illustrate various adaptations of my improvements which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A packing box or container comprising an open ended downwardly tapered outer wall member having vertical slots at the corners thereof, an inner member comprising a top, and downwardly tapered inner side walls on the edges thereof fitting within the outer wall member, each of said inner .side walls having a notch on one vertical edge alining with said outer wall member and a tongue on the opposite vertical edge engaging the slots, one of said inner side walls having a bottom extending from the bottom edge thereof. the bottom having downwardly tapered flaps on its other edges lying between the side walls of the inner member and the outer walls, the end edges of saidbottom flaps being in supporting engagement with the walls of the outer wall member.

2. A packing box or container comprising an open ended downwardly tapered outer wall member, an inner member comprising a top having a window opening therein, and downwardly tapered inner side walls on the edges thereof fitting within the outer wall member, said inner and outer members having co-engaging tongues and slots whereby they are retained in assembled relation, one of said inner side walls having a bottom extending from the bottom edge thereof, the bottom having downwardly tapered flaps on its other edges lying between the side walls of the inner member and the outer walls, the end edges of said bottom flaps being supporting engagement with the walls of the outer wall member.

3. A packing box or container comprising an open-ended downwardly tapered outer wall member, an inner member comprising a top, and downwardly tapered inner side walls on the edges thereof fitting within the outer wall member, said inner and outer members having co-engaging tongues and slots whereby they are retained in assembled relation one of said inner flaps being in supporting engagement with the walls of the outer wall member.

4. A packing box or container comprising a band-like downwardly tapered outer wall member having vertical slots at the corners thereof, an inner wall member comprising a top and downwardly tapered inner side walls on the edges thereof, each of said inner side walls having slotengaging tongues on at least one vertical edge, and a bottom extending from the edge of one of said inner side walls, the bottom having downwardly tapered flaps on its other edges lying between the side walls of the inner member and the outer walls and in supporting engagement with the walls of the outer member.

5. A packing box or container comprising an open-ended downwardly tapered outer wall member, an inner member comprising a top having a window opening therein and inner side walls fitting within the outer member, one of said inner side walls having a bottom extending from the bottom edge thereof, the bottom having downwardly tapered flaps on its other edges in supporting engagement at their ends with the outer wall member, said inner and outer wall members having coacting corner retaining tongues and slots.

6. A packing box or container comprising a band-like downwardly tapered outer wall member having vertical slots at the corners thereof, an inner member comprising a top and inner side walls fitting within and in supporting engagement with the walls of the outer member, a bottom extending from the edge of one of said inner side walls, the bottom having a tapered fiap on its edge opposite the inner side wall to which the bottom is connected in supporting engagement at its ends with the outer walls, said inner and outer members having co-engaging corner parts retaining them in assembled relation.

7. A packing box or container comprising a band-like downwardly tapered outer wall member, an inner wall member comprising a top and downwardly tapered inner side walls on the edges thereof, a bottom extending from the edge of one of said inner side walls, the bottom having downwardly tapered flaps on its other edges lying between the side walls of the inner member and the outer walls and in supporting engagement at their ends with the walls of the outer member, and means located at the corners of the box for retaining said members in assembled relation.

8. A packing box or container comprising an open-ended downwardly tapered outer wall member, an inner member comprising a top having awindow opening therein and inner side walls fitting within the outer member, one of said inner side \walls having a bottom extending from the bottom edge thereof, the bottom having downwardly tapered flaps on its other edges in supporting engagement at their ends with the outer wall member.

9. A packing box or container comprising a band-like downwardly tapered outer wall member, an inner member comprising a top and inner side walls fitting within and in supporting engagement with the walls of the outer member, and a bottom extending from the bottom edge of one of said inner side walls, the bottom having a tapered flap on its edge opposite the inner side wall to which the bottom is connected in supporting engagement at its ends with the outer walls.

ROBERT E. RUTLEDGE. 

